The Urgent Need for Liquid Oxygen: A Key Component of COVID-19 Response

In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, it has become increasingly clear that access to medical oxygen is a vital component of the global response to COVID-19. Without adequate supplies of liquid oxygen, patients worldwide are at risk of severe illness and even death. As governments, foundations, high net worth individuals, and the private sector continue to support Unitaid's efforts to address this critical issue, it is essential that more funding be committed to ensure a sufficient supply of liquid oxygen for those in need.

The statistics are stark: during the pandemic, donors have mobilized over $800 million in grant financing to help low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) avert oxygen shortages. However, an additional $1 billion is needed in the next year alone to prevent further shortages and ensure that patients receive the treatment they need to survive.

Oxygen therapy has proven to be a crucial component of COVID-19 treatment, with 75% of hospitalized patients able to recover with oxygen therapy alone. Moreover, access to oxygen has become a key plank of the global response to the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, many countries took access to oxygen for granted, but headlines reporting oxygen shortages and their tragic consequences have changed this.

But liquid oxygen is not just essential for COVID-19 patients; millions of others worldwide also require oxygen therapy, including newborns in respiratory distress, children with pneumonia, sepsis, and/or congenital heart disease, adults with tuberculosis, malaria, and/or HIV/AIDS, and those requiring surgery. Addressing the global inequities in access to oxygen is critical, and Unitaid has invested $83 million to date towards increasing liquid oxygen availability, repairing broken equipment, upskilling biomedical engineers, and supporting countries to identify needs and develop strategic national oxygen roadmaps.

Unitaid's efforts have been joined by other donors, including 5 countries, multilateral organizations, and foundations, which have collectively contributed to addressing the large shortfalls in access to oxygen for patients. However, more funding is needed to save lives now and support countries prepare for future health emergencies.

In conclusion, it is imperative that additional funding be committed to ensuring a sufficient supply of liquid oxygen for those in need. With $83 million invested to date, Unitaid calls on other donors to join forces and commit more funding to help close the $1 billion funding gap in the oxygen response. Together, we can drive long-term benefits for low- and middle-income countries and ensure that patients receive the medical oxygen they need to survive and thrive.

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